The Three Antichrists in the Book of Mormon, and why Nehor is the most dangerous

[Subcomandante]

In a reading of the Book of Mormon, we come against three antichrist figures: Sherem, Nehor, and Korihor.

Sherem is a person that simply denied the need for Jesus Christ. He said that he believed the Scriptures, and is described as being very gifted with language and the use of the tongue for flattery.

Korihor comes way after Sherem, but shares in Sherem's idea that there would not be Jesus. In addition, he calls Jesus' followers sheep and fools, and goes after the priests and teachers.

But even though Sherem and Korihor afterwards are shown the light and through rather bad signs, come to believe, there is one that was the most devious: Nehor.

Nehor started out not only by preaching the need of Christ as being unnecessary, and going after the teachers, but also that we should follow the popular ideas of the world. All humanity would be redeemed without the need for repentance. Then when challenged by one of the teachers, he pulled out a sword and killed him.

Nehor is killed not only because he had instituted priestcraft, but he tried to do so by force. Nevertheless, the nefarious doctrines of Nehor spread far and wide long after his death, to the point where we see the formation of an "order" of Nehors, and they join up with the Lamanites. A type of Nehorism started to show up amongst the Zoramites, who like Nehor considered themselves superior to their brethren surrounding them. A strand of Nehorism also infected those who would later be called the Gadianton Robbers.

The word Nehor comes from Hebrew and it means Light or Bright. An interesting wordplay of sorts, as one of the definitions of priestcraft is setting up yourself as a light to be followed by others, instead of pointing towards the true light which is Jesus Christ.

Today, we have many people advocating for the doctrines of Nehor to be taught in Church.

What are those doctrines of Nehor?

You don't need to repent of your sins, you can be as you are and return to Heaven. Just be yourself and live your truth.
What if you disagree? You must be silenced. Deplatformed. Fired from your jobs. Robbed of your livelihood. Then eventually, martyred.
Those that support those ideas are superior-minded. Those that are opposed, are on the wrong side of history.

Sound familiar?

Because we are reliving these things 2100 years later.

Our ideas should NOT be centered on the Gadianton robbers so much, but the IDEOLOGY behind it. Confront the IDEAS, not the PEOPLE. Because ultimately, our fight is NOT against FLESH AND BLOOD, but against PRINCIPALITIES and POWERS.

We as Latter-day Saints are UNIQUELY armed with this message, not only in the Book of Mormon but in the Pearl of Great Price as well. The fact that we have in general ignored this, does NOT bode well for us unless we repent...

[BigFootCain]

Thanks for this post. I agree that the doctrine of Nehor is alive and well today. In and out of the Church.

Not to minimize the seriousness of what's in your post but I remember hearing a little phrase decades ago that made me chuckle:

Nehor, Korihor, Al Gore

[buffalo_girl]

Not sure yet how those of us increasingly ground beneath ‘the heel of the Nehors’ will assert liberty.

Curious that Nehor is associated with ’Light’ as is Lucifer. I have ‘seen’ how their light manifests - it has the luminescence of decay.

[Subcomandante]

From here on out, I will be referring to the peddlers of the perverse doctrines of the world as the Latter Day Order of Nehors (LDON).

What is interesting is that after the destruction of Ammonihah, the area was called Desolation of the Nehors. Yet we see Nehorist doctrine (without being called that) spring up among the Zoramites with their Ramenuptom doctrine, as well as with the Gadiantons with their secret combinations and their efforts to force their ideas on others.

This is kind of how the left works today. When a word becomes so radioactive that they no longer want to use it, then go by another name. Zoram had followed Nephi, so he must have been a good guy! Voilá! Zoramites!

The Zoramites stopped being followed especially after they embraced the Lamanites. So another group shows up called "Gadianton"

Interesting wordphrase.
Gad: Fortune
Ya, Yah: Shortened form of Yahweh
Nton: From Natan: To give, perhaps a passive.

Meaning: Fortune is given from Yah(weh). As in, the group was inspired by God and those that refuse to follow will be destroyed by him or by us.

Talk about taking the name of the Lord in vain! They considered themselves the chosen ones! The keepers of the secrets handed down from old age.

[Fred]

From here on out, I will be referring to the peddlers of the perverse doctrines of the world as the Latter Day Order of Nehors (LDON).

What is interesting is that after the destruction of Ammonihah, the area was called Desolation of the Nehors. Yet we see Nehorist doctrine (without being called that) spring up among the Zoramites with their Ramenuptom doctrine, as well as with the Gadiantons with their secret combinations and their efforts to force their ideas on others.

This is kind of how the left works today. When a word becomes so radioactive that they no longer want to use it, then go by another name. Zoram had followed Nephi, so he must have been a good guy! Voilá! Zoramites!

The Zoramites stopped being followed especially after they embraced the Lamanites. So another group shows up called "Gadianton"

...

Exactly. Just substitute democrat for Nehor.

[Subcomandante]

From here on out, I will be referring to the peddlers of the perverse doctrines of the world as the Latter Day Order of Nehors (LDON).

What is interesting is that after the destruction of Ammonihah, the area was called Desolation of the Nehors. Yet we see Nehorist doctrine (without being called that) spring up among the Zoramites with their Ramenuptom doctrine, as well as with the Gadiantons with their secret combinations and their efforts to force their ideas on others.

This is kind of how the left works today. When a word becomes so radioactive that they no longer want to use it, then go by another name. Zoram had followed Nephi, so he must have been a good guy! Voilá! Zoramites!

The Zoramites stopped being followed especially after they embraced the Lamanites. So another group shows up called "Gadianton"

...

Exactly. Just substitute democrat for Nehor.

We need to learn to use language better.

[Say what?]

The Doctrine of Nehor in Alma. “And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life.”
Do you hear the testimonies in sacrament meeting that Heavenly Father loves you. And because he loves you everyone will eventually make it back to live with him.
With Nehor doctrine like this it ignores: “if you love me keep my commandments”, “think celestial” or “he who abides the law will inherit that kingdom” or “this life is the time to prepare to meet God.” Why would there even be a need for degrees of glory? Heavenly Fathers goodness is that we decide what glory we want to abide in. He gives us our agency. Many people would not want to live like a celestial being. Yet some would. He loves us so much that he lets us decide where we would feel most comfortable. He doesn’t expect perfection on this earth but wants us to try to learn and grow on the path to him, those who want to.
“15 And it came to pass that they took him; and his name was Nehor; and they carried him upon the top of the hill Manti, and there he was caused, or rather did acknowledge, between the heavens and the earth, that what he had taught to the people was contrary to the word of God; and there he suffered an ignominious death.“
NEHOR’S PREACHING WAS CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GOD!!!